Mukesh Rishi praises Kanti Shah's mastery in B-grade cinema, recalls Gunda's enduring legacy
Synopsis
Two decades after Gunda's theatrical run, actor Mukesh Rishi has revisited his collaboration with director Kanti Shah, crediting the filmmaker with mastery over the B-grade cinema ecosystem of the 1990s. What began as a genre exercise has morphed into cultural currency—Bulla's outsized presence in meme culture is proof that Shah's formula, however formulaic, touched something durable in Indian popular memory.
Key Takeaways
Actor Mukesh Rishi , who played Bulla in Gunda ( 1998 ), praised director Kanti Shah for his mastery over B-grade cinema.
Shah has been absent from the film industry since 2015 , though Rishi recently reconnected with him.
Gunda starred Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor , with a narrative centred on revenge against a crime lord.
The character Bulla has become a fixture of internet meme culture and pop discourse among younger audiences.
Rishi acknowledged uncertainty about Shah's current professional activities or whereabouts.
Actor Mukesh Rishi, who portrayed the iconic antagonist Bulla in the 1998 film Gunda, has lauded director Kanti Shah for his command over the B-grade cinema landscape of that era. Speaking to IANS, Rishi reflected on Shah's distinctive filmmaking approach and the unexpected cultural resonance of his character decades later.
Kanti Shah's mastery in B-grade cinema
Rishi revealed that he recently reconnected with Shah, who has remained largely absent from the film industry since 2015. "I spoke to him a few months ago. He wanted to do something about 'Gunda'. I said, 'It's available online. You can get whatever you want.' But Kanti Shah had made his own place in those days," Rishi told IANS.
The actor underscored Shah's expertise in a particular filmmaking niche. "He used to make a particular kind of films. At that time, in our place, there were two classes, what we call the balcony and the lower class, where different films were made. So, Kanti Shah had a mastery in that," Rishi explained, referencing the stratified cinema distribution model of the 1990s.
Why Bulla became a cultural phenomenon
Despite Shah's prolific output in the B-grade circuit, Gunda transcended its genre origins. "He made a lot of such films, but out of them, this Bulla always stood out. It's a good thing that today's generation likes it. This is a good thing for us," Rishi noted. The character has since become a fixture of internet meme culture and pop discourse, proving the film's outsized cultural impact relative to its budget and theatrical reach.
Shah's current whereabouts remain unclear
When asked whether he maintains regular contact with the director or knows his current pursuits, Rishi admitted uncertainty. "I have no idea what form he will be in now because he has worked in the industry for so many years, maybe he has joined someone else. Maybe he is making films; a lot can happen. I don't know," Rishi said, declining to speculate further on Shah's post-2015 trajectory.
The cast and narrative of Gunda
Gunda featured Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor alongside Rishi. The film's narrative centres on a coolie who vows vengeance against a crime lord and his associates after they murder his loved ones—a revenge-driven plot typical of the action-oriented B-grade formula that Shah specialised in during that period.
Point of View
But why the industry that produced it has vanished.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mukesh Rishi say about director Kanti Shah?
Mukesh Rishi praised Kanti Shah for his mastery over B-grade cinema in the 1990s. Rishi stated that Shah had a distinctive command over the filmmaking niche and made a particular kind of film tailored to specific audience segments.
When was Gunda released and who directed it?
Gunda was released in 1998 and directed by Kanti Shah. The film starred Mukesh Rishi as Bulla, alongside Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor.
Why has Bulla become culturally significant?
The character Bulla, played by Mukesh Rishi, has become a fixture of internet meme culture and pop discourse among younger audiences, despite the film's modest theatrical reach. This unexpected cultural resonance is proof of the film's outsized impact relative to its budget and genre classification.
Where has Kanti Shah been since 2015?
Kanti Shah has remained largely absent from the film industry since 2015. Mukesh Rishi recently spoke to him but admitted uncertainty about Shah's current professional activities or whereabouts.
What is the narrative of Gunda?
Gunda centres on a coolie who vows vengeance against a crime lord and his associates after they murder his loved ones, following a revenge-driven plot typical of the B-grade action formula.
